SHEILD Base.

"How much longer is Nick going to take? I can't take it anymore!" Nova screeched.

"Be patient Nova" said Ironfist

"Well it's been almost an hour since he left with my tip." Nova huffed, crossing his arms.

Before Nova could fit in another complaint, his phone began ringing. He looked annoyed but whipped I out anyway to see who it was. He looked down at the screen and his look of annoyance completely disappeared and he just looked, well, he looked like he was going to be sick.

"Nova? What's wrong? Who is it?" Ava asked.

"It's May!"

"Who?"

"Peter's aunt, you morons!"

"Why do you even have her number dude? And you guys are on first name basis now?" asked Powerman.

"We're buds! Remember? Anyway, Peter has been gone for almost four hours now! What do I tell her? It's almost eleven p.m.! Peter's normally home by now! Or he at least has an excuse or had snuck out or something."

"I don't know! Tell her that Peter is staying with us for the night and he couldn't call because he forgot his phone?" White Tiger Suggested.

Nova nodded and answered the call before it could go to voicemail.

When Sam picked up the phone, May sounded extremely upset and worried.

"Sam! Good you answered! Is Peter with you by any chance? I called Harry and Mary Jane, but they haven't seen him! It's almost midnight! He always tells me where he -"

"No need to worry Mrs. P, Peter's staying at my place for the night. Sorry for making you worry. We were going to call, but Peter's phone died and I just found mine when you called and I heard it ringing."

"What? That doesn't sound like Peter at all. He wouldn't have stayed if he couldn't tell me about it. He would've come back. Are you sure you're not just covering for him?" Aunt May said accusingly.

Man, Peter's Aunt was way smarter than they gave her credit for. Now what was he going to say?

"Uhh. Well, you see, he isn't really himself today, you know? He nearly failed a science test at school. You know what that does to a huge ner- um, science fanatic like Peter." Nova joked.

"I don't know." she said skeptically, "Can I talk to him?"

"Sorry May, he passed out around 10. I don't think a stampede could wake him up right now. But I promise, I'll have him call you as soon as he is awake. Unless you want me to wake him up…?"

He heard Aunt May sigh through the phone. Sam knew she wouldn't have him wake Peter up.

"No, don't wake him up. He can stay. But tell him that he will definitely be grounded when he gets home." She said with a scolding tone, "For the test and not calling. Goodbye Sam. Thanks for letting me know where Peter is."

And, with that Nova hung up the phone and sighed.

"Well? How'd it go?" asked Powerman.

"She bought it. But Peter is going to kill me. He got grounded for not calling and failing a science test. Should've picked something else."

"Yup, he's going to kill you."

The team jumped at the sound of the helicarrier doors opening behind them and turned around to see Nick. He walked over and handed them a piece of paper.

"What's this?" asked Ayala.

"This is the list of possible hideouts we've gathered."

"What? But it's huge! There must be over thirty places on here though!"

"Thirty- two. And you will search every single one of them until you find Spiderman."

The team gave a curt nod of determination before heading out the door to go find there missing friend.

Doc Ock's Hideout

Peter coughed violently, something he has been doing a lot tonight now that he thought about it. The punches just kept coming. There was probably more bruised than un-bruised skin on his body right now. Norman left almost an hour ago and left the job to Ock. He was almost starting to miss Osborn just for his non-metal arms. How much longer could this possibly go on? Why was Norman doing this? Just because he wouldn't join his side? I thought the goal here was to take his DNA! Not beat it out of him! This was insane! There was no way a goal as simple as this was so important. To think that this brutal beating was going to go on until he gave in to their demands. And Peter knew he wasn't going to do that. He also knew that both Norman and Ock were certain he wouldn't join them. So the big question was: what were they really playing at? Surely Osborn couldn't be that pissed? Then again, the man was pretty unhinged. Right now, Peter was just thankful for the break he got thanks to Doc's absence at the moment. However, he feared that when Ock came back it would be worse.

"Have you given in yet Spider? It's a waste of effort you know. There's no way you're getting out of this." Ock said walking through the metal doors.

Despite the pain he felt and the effects this could have, he looked up and gave him a cocky grin.

"Doc! Speak of the devil; I was just thinking about you. And while we're speaking of wasted efforts, this is one. I already denied his offer, you'll never get the DNA. At least, not successfully. You know that. Look at all your other creations."

"I realize that you won't give in. Despite what you and your friends believe, we aren't stupid. Norman has another goal in mind now. He took your refusal as a personal betrayal. However, that's for me to know and you to find out. Maybe I would've told you, just to bother you. But not after you insulted my work."

Peter's sarcastic grin faded into a frown. With a hot surge of anger he shouted out, "Just tell me what you want from me! You and Osborn BOTH said you wanted my DNA! Yet you haven't taken anything even remotely related. What's your game Doc?"

Ock's face twisted from a grin to a grimace, as if contemplating how to respond. After quite some time he finally decided he had the answer to Peter's question.

"I really shouldn't tell you… but I'll do anything to spite Norman. You see Peter," he said advancing on our friendly neighborhood Spiderman, "Norman's judgment is clouded. The goal has been pushed back. It's become second priority. What he wants, is you dead. Gone. Deceased. Slaughtered. But first, you're going to suffer. He's very angry. We can still get DNA from a dead man."

"What? But …what about the deal?!" screeched Peter. He knew that if he accepted, it would at least buy him some time until the team came. Should've thought of that earlier.

"Oh? The deal no longer stands. You didn't accept soon enough. You'll be disposed of, then we'll take your DNA so we can duplicate your powers. You should've taken the deal sooner. Not very smart Spiderman, or rather, Peter."

All the color drained from his face, and for the first time since Peter was taken, he felt not panic, but fear.

To be continued…